WWI calendar is online

By
Bianca Perez

STUDENTS will get greater insight into World War I after an educational online calendar of daily events of the period was launched at Cabramatta's Whitlam Library last Friday.

Learning: Students Nhu Mai and Johnny Do with Cabra-Vale Diggers Club director Jim Thompson look at the World War I educational online calendar. Picture: Simon Bennett

STUDENTS will get greater insight into World War I after an educational online calendar of daily events of the period was launched at Cabramatta's Whitlam Library last Friday.

The calendar, which features events that took place from June 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918, was launched to commemorate the upcoming centenary of Anzac and World War I.

Fowler MP Chris Hayes said the calendar will optimise learning opportunities for young students.

"World War I, and particularly the ANZAC efforts, helped forge our national identity and define our national character," he said.

"Our community is using the federal government Anzac centenary grant funding to commemorate this important time in Australia's history through a number of community events.

"We're also using it as an opportunity for knowledge building, to teach our young people, in particular, about the history that has allowed us to enjoy the freedom and peace we have today."

Cabra-Vale Diggers Club group general manager Michael Foulkes agreed and said the website was created to help the community understand how modern Australia was shaped. "It was a really good day," he said. "There were students from Cabramatta High School and they took part in a multiple-choice quiz. The message we're sending to students is not to take peace for granted."

As part of the upcoming Anzac centenary celebrations, students from more than 40 local schools will also have the chance to express their own understanding of Australia's involvement in World War I through an arts competition.